ML3EE: Extended Essay

Module code: ML3EE

Module provider: Languages and Cultures; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Professor Julia Waters, email: J.Waters@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): Your project proposal (200 words) and working title will need to be approved by the Module Convenor. (Open)

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded: IN TAKING THIS MODULE YOU CANNOT TAKE AD3DIS OR TAKE CL3DN OR TAKE CL3EE OR TAKE EC3DIS OR TAKE EC3DSI OR TAKE EN3DIS OR TAKE HS3HLD OR TAKE PO3DIS (Compulsory)

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 16 September 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The aim of the Extended Essay is to prepare students for postgraduate study by allowing them to engage in extended research on an appropriate, clearly delimited topic of their own choosing from an area of Modern Languages and Culturethat is relevant to their degree programme, and to present their material in a convincing and persuasive manner that enables an educated reader to understand the topic and the issues surrounding it. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Undertake independent research using library and non-library sources (the web, the press, interviews etc.) as appropriate
2. Show an ability to plan, organise and synthesise material gathered during their research
3. Present this material with clarity in English, paying due regard to the sequencing of argument, the relevance and range of supportive evidence, and correct use of bibliographies, footnotes and general layout
4. Demonstrate, where relevant, a confident awareness of and engagement with critical debates surrounding the selected topic, exercise skills of editing, proof-reading and formal presentation to standards of scholarly accuracy

Module content

The topic of research is chosen by each student in agreement with their supervisor. During their independent research, students will attend between 2-3 lectures on research skills such as:

• Academic writing
• Task management
• Working with primary and secondary sources

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Students are given introductory training on Extended Essay requirements and research techniques early in Semester 1 of the final year.

During summer 2024, students must have:

• identified and contacted a suitable member of DLC academic staff to request that s/he supervise the project
• developed a 200-word proposal and working title, in consultation with the supervisor
• obtained written (via email) confirmation from the supervisor that s/he is willing to supervise the project and approves the student’s 200-word proposal and working title,and forwarded this confirmation to the convenor
• submitted the 200-word proposal and working title (in a Word document) via email to the convenor for this module

In cases where the supervisor has confirmed willingness to supervise the project, but the project proposal and title are not approved by the module convenor, the student must submit a REVISED proposal and title by the FIRST DAY of Autumn Term of the final year.

By mid-semester 1, students must have:

• prepared, in consultation with the supervisor, a bibliography and a plan for the Extended Essay.

The module consists largely of independent study and writing. The required dissertation length will be 6,000 words (± 10%) excluding references and bibliography.

The supervisor will supply feedback on a plan in the course of the Final Year, and on a full draft if it is submitted by noon on the penultimate Monday of the Spring Term of the student’s final year. If no draft is submitted by then, there will be no obligation to supply any such feedback on a draft.

Study hours

At least 7 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

• Extended Essay proposal (200 words) and title by June 2024 (and revised proposal by first day of Semester 1, where applicable); 
• Bibliography and a plan for the Extended Essay by week 5 of the Semester 1; 
• Project presentation in week 8 or 9 of Semester 1; 
• Extended Essay draft, if submitted, needs to be in by late Semester 2 of final year. 

Reassessment

Additional costs